Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Closely encircling or surrounding: Describing something that completely surrounds or encloses an area or object.
   • Broad in scope or content; comprehensive: Including or covering a wide range of subjects, aspects, or elements.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Surrounding):

  • The encompassing walls of the ancient city provided strong defense.
  • We were awed by the encompassing view from the mountaintop.

• Adjective (Comprehensive):

  • The report provided an encompassing analysis of the economic factors.
  • Her encompassing knowledge of the subject impressed the entire committee.

Advanced Usage

• "All-encompassing": This is a common compound adjective meaning including every possible aspect; total.
  • The company's new policy is all-encompassing, affecting every department.
• Used to describe influence, authority, or studies that are very wide-ranging.
  • The king held encompassing power over the region.
  • The professor's research is encompassing in its field.

Variants and Related Words

• Encompass (verb): To surround, enclose, or include comprehensively.
  • The park encompasses a lake and a forest.
• Encompassment (noun): The act of encompassing or the state of being encompassed. (Less common)

Synonyms

• Surrounding: Being all around a particular place or thing.
• Comprehensive: Including all or nearly all elements or aspects of something.
• All-inclusive: Including everything or everyone.
• Panoramic: (In a figurative sense) Presenting a full or wide view.

Antonyms

• Limited: Restricted in size, amount, or extent.
• Narrow: Limited in extent, amount, or scope.
• Exclusive: Excluding or not admitting other things.

Related Phrases

• To encompass something: To include a wide range of ideas, subjects, etc.
  • The discussion encompassed topics from history to philosophy.
• Encompassed by: Completely surrounded by.
  • The valley is encompassed by tall peaks.

Adjective

1. closely encircling
   • encompassing mountain ranges
   • the surrounding countryside
2. broad in scope or content
   • across-the-board pay increases
   • an all-embracing definition
   • blanket sanctions against human-rights violators
   • an invention with broad applications
   • a panoptic study of Soviet nationality- T.G.Winner
   • granted him wide powers